Speakers cables that are warm yet detailed........

I second the Tara Labs reco, they balance very well between detail and musicality. I might recommend you try The One's.

Happy Hunting Gary,

John

While Grant does have a point, there is still a piece missing, the listener's personal preferences. I've known people who have owned the same equipment as myself, yet we disagree on cables because our musical choices and tastes are different. So contacting folks with Rowland amplification and/or Avalon speakers does not hold much weight either, IMHO.

Another suggestion, which I find works better for me than The Cable Company (I have a 6% sales tax as well, since I live in PA), is to buy and sell used on AudiogoN. The money lost is very minimal, if any at all, with some wise buys.

I've demo'd many cables, power cords, speakers and equipment that way. It's the only way to try things in your own system, IMHO.

That said, certain cables do have certain common traits. Nordost Valhalla will be stunningly fast and transparent, but may sound lean and thin in a analytical system. Cardas Golden Reference will sound full-bodied and warm, but may sound lifeless in a warm system. These are not just experiences of mine, but have been replicated with experiences of many other audiophiles.

So I think Gary is looking for a couple good suggestions of starting places. Cables with known traits as neither too warm or too detailed. I don't think he's looking for someone to tell him what cable he WILL like, just a couple of ideas of where to start trying in the AudiogoN marketplace. It is easier if you do a little 'homework' with fellow enthusiasts first, so you don't have to try EVERYTHING.

Maybe with some help, and some searches, both here and at AA, he can come up with a list of 3-5 cables he'd like to try. Many Audiophiles I've talked to have similar impressions on cables 'qualities', we just disagree due to systems and tastes. So you can gain some insight as to where to start. If he could find a thread like you started Grant, about power cord flavors, for cables, that would be helpful.

Earlier I echoed a Tara Labs recommedation, as I've always found them to be well balanced. Gary mentions that he does like the PAD Venustas, so maybe looking to move up the PAD line is another option.

That's enough for tonight.

Cheers,

John

With respect, John, the man has specifically said he's looking for warm yet detailed cabling. Given this preference and his gear, I don't think musical choice has much to do with it. Are you suggesting that his taste in music will have a significant bearing on his choice of cabling beyond the sound produced by his speaker/electronics combination? If so, this is where I get off the train, 'cause it isn't going anywhere I want to visit.

Actually Grant, I was not refferring to the kind of music he listens to, but it his personal listening preferences. What I meant by musical taste wasn't what kind of music he listens to, but how he personally receives the music. What I mean by this is that it is common for two people to hear the same track through the same system and have two different perceptions. One may think the system lacks warmth, while the other listener believes the same system has too much warmth. Phrases like warmth, details, transparency, mean different things to different people.

That's what I meant by musical tastes, not the type of music.

Anyway, you are correct, this subject has been beaten to death and I am done. That said, I do believe that cables have certain basic flavors, just like power cords.

Cheers,
John

Cardas Golden Reference is definitely warmer than Tara Labs Decade. I know, I've owned them both. Yes, the CGR has more detail than other Cardas cables, but I still would say it's on the warm side. The Cardas Neutral Reference is the most, well, neutral cable in the Cardas line. I don't think any Cardas offering will be a step up from your PAD Venustas though. I actually preffered the Jena Lab cables, Symphony and Valkyre, over the Cardas Golden Reference, though the JL's are also on the warm side of neutral.

I would say the TL Decade has more detail than any Cardas cables I've heard, yet never sounded harsh or bright. I actually prefferred the Decade over the Air 1 series. The One is much better though.

I haven't heard the Synergestic Desiner's or Shunyata cables yet, so I can not comment.